Turkey looks to become global olive player once more

MADRID – Anatolia News Agency

Turkey, a major olive producer, is setting itself a series of targets for 2011 in order to enhance the production and export of olives and olive oil, according to the head of a growers’ council.

“By 2014 we are aiming to be the second in the world. This may take us longer than we aim for but even a slow-paced approach to the target will enhance our productivity greatly,” National Olive and Olive Oil Council Chairman Mustafa Tan recently told Anatolia news agency.

Turkey will host the International Olive Council’s annual meeting for 2011 in February, the first year since rejoining the U.N.-affiliated organization.

Turkey joined the council in 1963, but canceled its membership in 1998 because the council was not considered to be of high enough global importance, had very expensive annual membership fees totaling roughly $358,000 and angered Turkey by the deciding to admit Greek Cyprus as a member.

A Turkish delegation led by Industry Ministry’s Deputy Undersecretary Mehmet Vehbi Günan recently attended the council’s second meeting in Madrid.

Turkey is way beneath other Mediterranean countries in terms of competition in the olive market, Günan said.

Tan said Turkey was the only country producing oil that was not a member of the council and added that Turkey imported 1 million tons of oil seeds and vegetable oil annually at a cost of $3 million.

“Provided that the olive cultivation is enhanced to the standards that are predicted and for which we are aiming, these imported oils will be replaced by our own olive oil,” Tan said.

According to statistics, olive oil production and consumption is way below the limits of the other Mediterranean countries. The per capita olive oil consumption in Turkey has increased to 1.3 liters recently, which was only 800 grams in 2007. However, the rate is 21 liters in Greece, 16 liters in Italy and 14 liters in Spain.

Similarly, Turkey produces 160,000 tons of olive oil annually, whereas the amount is 336,000 tons in Greece, 400,000 tons in Spain and 500,000 tons in Italy.

Syria, which entered the council after Turkey canceled its membership in 1998, produces an average of 193,000 of olive oil every year.